A taste of New Orleans in the Pacific Northwest. That's what you'll find at this intimate bistro located in the northeastern section of the city. From classic Cajun and Creole favorites like seafood gumbo jambalaya and shrimp Creole, the menu is sure to please. You'll find a mix of meat, pasta and vegetable dishes as well as down home desserts that seem to come right from a homey, Southern kitchen, including bread pudding, butter cake and Creole pecan pie. Visit on Monday's and enjoy special discounts from their Mardi Gras Mondays Cheap Eats Menu. There's no better place to dine mid-day on Sunday's than at Acadia; live jazz music sets an invigorating tone for expectant brunchers.

Bijou Cafe, the eatery of choice for Portland's power brokers, serves creative American cuisine that's whipped up using fresh, local ingredients. During breakfast, corn-flour pancakes are served with a side of oyster or snapper hash, and the super health-conscious can even get a bowl of steamed brown rice. Lunchtime offers up a roster of soups, salads and special entrees.Organic products are frequently incorporated, and you can also find tofu dishes. As is typical with popular eateries, Bijou can get crowded at times and could demand a wait.

Perhaps Portland's most exclusive restaurant, the hip, sleek Bluehour caters to an upscale set with its scintillating cuisine and clean-lined, lush decor. The Northwestern fare takes cues from the Mediterranean, always using, of course, the best ingredients produced in the region. Starters include seared scallops, beef carpaccio, poached oysters and grilled quail. Main courses, from a menu that changes daily, could feature venison medallions, fresh pasta laced with herbs, horseradish-crusted salmon and a risotto flavored on the kitchen's whim. Desserts are executed by an in-house pastry chef and feature innovative takes on chocolate pudding, creme brulee and cake and ice cream. A well-received bar draws the nightlife crowd.

This neighborhood establishment is a favorite with the local crowd. The interior is somewhat nondescript, but great food takes your focus elsewhere. Breakfast, available daily, is a good way to start the morning. Fresh, hot coffee goes well with the brioche, but you'll also be tempted by the smoked chicken omelet, fluffy pancakes, and scrambled egg dishes. On Sundays, the three-course Yiddish brunch is an eastern European tradition that will leave you happily incapacitated for the rest of the day! Large windows allow you to people-watch while you dine, and the restaurant is comfortable if you're eating alone.

It's often the case that when you do one thing regularly, you develop a talent, or at least a skill, for it. That's definitely the case with Fat Albert's, where all they do is breakfast. The small, inviting place features an open kitchen, and patrons are privy to all that goes on with the preparations. The menu, although brief, is filled with good things, from light, airy pancakes to omelets, oatmeal, and biscuits and gravy. Fried eggs are especially good when paired with home browns, the restaurant's take on home fries. Add a cup of strong coffee, and you've got a great start to the morning. On the weekends, you'll find the place patronized by a multitude of families, so come early to get in and out quicker.